Nick Denton Denies Rumor of Gawker And Business Insider Merger

Rumors of a merger between Business Insider and Gawker that made the rounds this morning have been greatly exaggerated.

“We had breakfast, as we regularly do. I admire Henry Blodget, Joe Weisenthal and Business Insider’s editorial management. They’d have more fun with us than at AOL, where they’d be yet another unhappy unit. And they’re having fun with the possibility alone,” Mr. Denton said in an email.

The merger rumor started after Mr. Denton and Business Insider’s Henry Blodget had breakfast at Balthazar recently (and Mr. Blodget managed to bring an end to the tyranny of the bathroom attendants at the Keith McNally restaurant).

Today, in advance of a public discussion between Mr. Blodget and Mr. Denton at Business Insider’s Ignition Future of Digital Conference, Business Insider writer Jay Yarow tweeted the rumor that there would be a merger announcement this afternoon.